Once Again, Hong Kong Takes CENTRESTAGE

Asia’s Premier Fashion Event CENTRESTAGE Concludes

On September 9, Fashion brand-promotion and launch platform CENTRESTAGE, held in Hong Kong, concluded four days of fashion showcases, featuring more than 210 fashion brands from 22 countries and regions.

Survey: Steady Sales Expected, e-Tailing Important Sales Channel

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the four-day international fashion event showcased the latest brands and designer collections, attracting 8,500 buyers from 73 countries and regions, up 2.6 per cent over the previous year.

Buyers from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia increased significantly; and Asian buyers accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the total buyer attendance.

the international fashion event attracted 8,500 buyers from 73 countries and regions

“CENTRESTAGE is an ideal promotion and launch platform for Asian fashion brands and designers,” said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau. “We are gratified to see that in its sophomore edition, CENTRESTAGE continued to be a focus of attention for Asia’s fashion industry.”

CENTRESTAGE continues to be a focus of attention for Asia’s fashion industry

The event attracted many international fashion brands and buyers, particularly those keen on developing Asian markets. Many up-and-coming local designers also staged fashion shows during the event, to showcase Hong Kong’s creative designs to buyers and media from around the world.

As is the goal of many events organized during the show period, CENTRESTAGE also facilitated industry exchange, reaffirming Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s fashion capital.

The HKTDC commissioned an independent research agency to conduct on-site surveys during CENTRESTAGE, interviewing more than 270 exhibitors and buyers to gauge their views on the outlook for the fashion industry and the coming year’s product trends. The survey found that the industry is cautiously optimistic about sales in the coming year. More than half of the respondents expect overall sales to remain steady, while about 40 per cent of respondents expect overall sales to grow.

Half of the respondents expect production costs or sourcing costs to stay unchanged. While nearly half of industry players surveyed expect sourcing price/production cost increases, more than 60 per cent of the respondents said they would not raise unit or retail prices – reflecting a general tendency in the industry to not transfer increased costs to customers.

In terms of markets, more than 80 per cent of respondents consider Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan to have the best growth prospects among traditional markets in the coming two years, while75 per cent of respondents see the Chinese mainland as the most promising among emerging markets. More than 40 per cent of respondents favor Eastern Europe and ASEAN markets.

more than 80 per cent of respondents consider Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan to have the best growth prospects

As for product trends in the coming year, 70 per cent of respondents expect womenswear to be the most popular, followed by casual wear and fashion jewelry. Limited-edition collections, brand licensing products and brand crossover promotion were identified as the most prevalent product development strategies in the coming year.

Over 70 per cent engaged in e-tailing, a significant jump from previous year
In terms of sales channels, more than 70 per cent of respondents said they are engaged in e-tailing, a significant increase from the previous year, which saw only over half of the respondents reporting they are involved in such business – an indication that the fashion industry is increasingly serious about e-commerce.

Over 70 per cent engaged in e-tailing

On average, online sales account for nearly 20 per cent of the total sales revenue. The top product types sold through e-tailing are womenswear, casual wear and menswear.

online sales account for nearly 20 per cent of the total sales revenue

Master Sharing Session deciphers the global appeal of Korean fashion

A number of master sharing sessions were held during CENTRESTAGE. At one of the sessions, Jean Colin, Vice President of Global Expansion, Fashion Division, Samsung C&T Corporation, which represents the Korean brand JUUN.J, analyzed the brand’s rise to global fashion prominence. Ms. Colin said Juun.J realized his dream of establishing his own brand by partnering with Samsung C&T. The company put together a team to help the brand find its market position, and supported Juun.J to join overseas Fashion Week events, she said.

Juun.J realized his dream of establishing his own brand by partnering with Samsung C&T

According to Ms. Colin, Juun.J started by designing clothes that he would wear himself without aiming to create genderless designs. But he soon responded to strong female demand for his designs by launching his own womenswear line.

Ms. Colin said that despite globalization, which exposes people to different types of information, those who wish to expand abroad must first understand their own cultural background and be firmly rooted in the local market. She pointed out that the color white that Juun.J favors in his designs is closely linked with his culture, where Koreans in the past could not afford colored fabric for clothing, and that white projected a sense of neutrality.

Ideal promotion and launch platform draws more exhibitors

First-time exhibitor Hausie Showroom is a newly established fashion company in Hong Kong that represents more than 20 international brands.“The company made its debut at CENTRESTAGE this year to showcase a variety of fashion collections, jewelry and bags for over 17 brands we exclusively distribute,” said founder Vivian Pang-Williams.

“The feedback has been positive. So far, we have found about 20 potential customers from different markets, including Galeries Lafayette from France, Aishti Group from Lebanon, and multi-brand stores from the Chinese mainland.”

The feedback has been positive

Hong Kong brand ASTRA Tailoring also launched a new menswear label at CENTRESTAGE. Design director Ayumi Kwan and partner Angus Tsui said the label’s zero-waste design and emphasis on sustainability attracted buyers from the Chinese mainland, Singapore, Thailand and Japan.

Of those enquiring about their products, about five to 10 were serious buyers, the company said, with some fabric suppliers also approaching them to explore cooperation.

In recent years, Macau has been keen to nurture its design talent. Macau designer Lalaismi Wai joined the Designers’ Collection Show at CENTRESTAGE to display the designs of her personal label, Pourquoi, to global buyers; and attracted enquires from Japanese buyers.

In recent years, Macau has been keen to nurture its design talent

Buyers favor Hong Kong’s new fashion talent

Nicholas Chong, CEO of fashion retail chain YFS, which operates 138 stores in Malaysia, said his company visited CENTRESTAGE for the first time. “I have already identified several Hong Kong designer brands for cooperation,” said Mr. Chong. “They include fashion jewelry by CIAO and casual wear for ladies by FromClothingOf. I expect to place orders worth about US $10,000 to US $30,000 each with them. The menswear collections by Hong Kong designer Angus Tsui are also appealing. We will explore collaboration to create a new menswear series for the HK $1,000-HK $4,000 retail price market.”

Leading French department store Galeries Lafayette was interested in various brands that exhibited at the show. “FFIXXED STUDIOS, highlighted at the CENTRESTAGE ELITES show, offers appealing designs – and we expect to place orders with them. JUUN. J is also good,” said buyer Catherine Coppin, who further cited other potential brands such as ZERO DESIGN and GARANCE from Korea, as well as KEVIN HO, HOUSE OF V and LOOM LOOP from Hong Kong. “I have also found various brands showcased at TUDOO Showroom from the Chinese mainland and HAUSIE Showroom from Hong Kong.”

Galeries Lafayette was interested in various brands

Henry Pang, buyer of HALO Designer Chic from theChinese mainland,found some suitable Hong Kong designs at CENTRESTAGE.“One of the brands is Methodology and they will show us their new 2018 spring/summer designs. The potential order is estimated at Rmb 10,000 to Rmb 30,000. Talks are also underway with another Hong Kong brand, Anveglosa, for new fur designs for fall/winter2018. I have also found some interesting overseas fashion brands from Chinese mainland exhibitor TUDOO Showroom,” said Mr. Pang.